Sisson Pond dam
Sisson Pond
Sisson Pond, located in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, is a local government-owned water supply reservoir with a primary purpose of providing water to the community. The dam, completed in 1900, is a rockfill structure standing at a height of 14 feet and has a storage capacity of 550 acre-feet. The pond covers an area of 90 acres and is fed by Lawton Valley Brook, with a maximum discharge capacity of 355 cubic feet per second.
Despite its important role in supplying water to the area, Sisson Pond has been assessed as having a high hazard potential and poor condition. The last inspection in 2013 revealed the need for improvement and maintenance. The dam is under state regulation, with permitting, inspection, and enforcement procedures in place to ensure public safety and water resource sustainability. The local community, along with state regulatory agencies, must work together to address the dam's condition and mitigate potential risks associated with its operation.
As water resources and climate enthusiasts, it is crucial to recognize the significance of maintaining infrastructure like Sisson Pond to ensure the safety and reliability of our water supply systems. By staying informed about the condition of dams and reservoirs in our area, we can advocate for necessary upgrades, repairs, and risk management measures to protect our communities and the environment. Sisson Pond serves as a reminder of the importance of proactive management and investment in our water resources for a sustainable future.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Sisson Pond -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Hunt River Near East Greenwich | 21 cfs | → |
| Chipuxet River At West Kingston | 9 cfs | → |
| Paskamanset River Near South Dartmouth | 7 cfs | → |
| Queen R At Liberty Rd At Liberty Ri | 15 cfs | → |
| Pawtuxet River At Cranston | 170 cfs | → |
| South Branch Pawtuxet River At Washington | 58 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sisson Pond.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Camp Hoffman
- Camp Watchaug (Westerly Ymca)
- 315 - Burlingham
- Dyer Woods Nudist Campgrounds
- Mystic Koa Holiday
Fishing spots
Track Sisson Pond in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Sisson Pond
Where does the data for Sisson Pond come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the High hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Sisson Pond.